English Language A Level
The AQA English Language specification offers wonderful breadth and allows for discussion of language, social groups, diversity, literary and language evolution. It allows students to gain an insight into the world around them and accent and dialect/gender are particularly popular with our students. The course is broad and challenging – it also gives students a chance to make language their own. The cohorts across the three English courses are subtly different and the English Language specification is particularly useful for those who enjoy paying close attention to the detail of language. It is a strong course for building written skills and developing textual analysis. The grammatical and child language modules are also excellent for students who wish to move into primary school teaching. The sociolinguistic modules are superb for encouraging independent thought and examining social roles. The independent Language in Action project also encourages students to follow their own interests and explore creative writing.
The specification builds on GCSE and introduces new areas like sociolinguistics. The content and approach examine new, more varied aspects of the subject including accent and dialect, gender and World English. We also analyse a range of texts, identify language features in written and spoken text and explore various types of language, with consideration of audience, purpose and genre for different social groups.
In the second year of the course there is a focus on analysis of language on varied topics and we introduce psycholinguistics. There is exploration of how children acquire language and of how language changes over time according to region and context, along with attitudes to this change. Students also develop their own academic and analytical writing skills and complete an investigation of an aspect of language in which they have a personal interest, along with a piece of creative writing with commentary.
Entry requirements
A minimum of 4 subjects at grade 5 or above at GCSE plus English Language at grade 5 or above.
What will I study?
Year One
Paper One: Language and the Individual
Assessing textual variations and representations and methods of language analysis.
Paper Two: Language Varieties
Assessing language diversity, writing skills and methods of language analysis.
Year Two
Paper One: Language, the Individual and Society
Assessing textual variations and representations, children’s language development and methods of language analysis.
Paper Two: Language Diversity and Change
Assessing language diversity and change, language discourses, writing skills and methods of language analysis.
Language in Action
Non-examined assessment assessing a language investigation, original writing and methods of language analysis.
Method of delivery
You will follow the standard A Level model of delivery with five 60 minute lessons a week. Lessons will include activities such as taking notes, class and group discussion, reading and research, essay practice and a chance to improve your own, personal writing style.
How will I be assessed?
In Year Two there are two terminal exams worth 40% of the final mark each; the non-examined assessment is worth 20% of the final mark.
Good course combinations
English Language is a very versatile course that combines well with most A Levels. There are strong links with Modern Languages; Philosophy, Ethics & Religion; History; Sociology; Psychology; English Literature; Film; Media; Business and Law.
Your next steps
Most students progress on to university and many are likely to go into journalism, primary teaching and linguistic based degrees. We also have a number of students who work in the creative and media industries, public relations, museum work, civil service, law etc. Past students have gone on to study English at Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Manchester and other top universities. A number of our students also move on to degree apprenticeships, particularly in journalism.
English Literature A Level
A Level
Subject Area
English
Study Mode
Full-time
Start Date
September 2025
Duration
2 years
Level
Level 3
English Language & Literature A Level
A Level
Subject Area
English
Study Mode
Full-time
Start Date
September 2025
Duration
2 years
Level
Level 3
